Our Teachers

David has been teaching and performing in the greater Atlanta area for almost a decade. Teaching privately, at Red Clay music Foundry, and other venues, he's been able to pass on his passion and love for music to many students, both young and old. Playing drums for HeyDreamer, local Atlanta singer-songwriters and various Beatle tribute acts gives him a unique perspective on how to equip students for real-world application and education on the drum set.

Nicholas began his musical studies in 2008, learning piano. As he grew, he would develop a love for different styles of playing including classical, gospel, blues, and jazz. Nicholas was also growing as a vocalist, singing in church and in school choirs. Nicholas earned his Bachelors Degree in Piano Performance in 2022 at Piedmont University, under the instruction of Dr Jeri-mae Astolfi. He received his Masters Degree in Arts and Education Studies from Piedmont University in 2025. Nicholas' approach to education focuses on developing healthy playing technique, using traditional and new teaching styles. "My goal is to develop a love for learning and playing music while cultivating a technical foundation, letting musicians to play more."

Passionate music educator with a focus on creativity and self expression. My varied experiences include teaching middle school band, elementary general music, and individual lessons on clarinet, saxophone, flute, and ukulele. I love singing folk and rock music, playing in groups, and songwriting.

Alden Smith, a state-certified music educator, holds a degree in instrumental music education from The University of Akron, OH, graduating in 2019. With six years of experience in public school teaching, he has dedicated the last five years to instructing 4th and 5th grade band in Atlanta Public Schools. Alden will be joining DeKalb County Schools as a music teacher next year. Originally from Strongsville, OH, he studied piano from kindergarten through high school. His student-centered teaching philosophy emphasizes that everyone can learn music at any age through personalized education.

Laura is a seasoned music teacher with over 5-6 years of experience and has been playing guitar for more than 14 years. She graduated from the Electric Guitar Performance program at the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media and is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, proficient in guitar, bass, drums, keys, and vocals. Laura offers instruction in guitar, bass, and ukulele to students ranging from 7 to 70+ years old, catering to all skill levels from beginner to advanced. She covers a wide array of musical genres, including rock, RnB, country, reggae, bossanova, latin, and neo-soul. Her teaching encompasses instrument technique, songs, and music theory, guiding students on their musical journey.

Paul Hannah: playing professionally since the age of sixteen. Born in Las Vegas, NV, he attended New England Conservatory as a student of Vic Firth, & attained the Artist’s Diploma from Hartt with Alexander Lepak. Paul studied drums with Alan Dawson and freelanced for years in CT and NY performing ALL styles of music. Paul worked as a drummer/percussionist for 25 Broadway tours all over the USA/World. Paul has been teaching for over 15 years. His teaching style puts the fun in fundamentals: developing proper technique, reading skills, and coordination exercises, all while having a fun time learning to play music! He welcomes students of all ages and looks forward to helping you develop your drumming skills; laughter and practicing requi...

Lorén Hannah has over 30 years of teaching experience on Violin & Viola, specializing in private instruction and coaching. She has experience in teaching all levels and ages (5-75!) and has a true passion for sharing the delight of music! Lorén is a Performance Graduate from the New England Conservatory of Music as a student of Walter Trampler with additional Graduate studies at URI under Ann Danis. She has performed for decades in numerous orchestras, ensembles and solo events. In her string coaching, Lorén endeavors to instill in her string students the LOVE, JOY and FUN of music while teaching songs, repertoire, technique and the fundamentals for success!

With 30+ years of playing experience, Scott's teaching approach can generally be summed up with the following statement: "What's the use in learning something if you can't have fun and creatively apply it to a real-life, playing situation?". When he is not gigging or hanging out with his dog, Bodhi, Scott enjoys working with students of all ages and skill levels on guitar/bass. He holds both a B.M. in Jazz Performance (Guitar) from KSU and a Certificate of Musicianship (Guitar) from AIMM. He is versed in rock, blues, jazz, R&B, country, bluegrass, musical theatre, and contemporary worship/gospel styles. Scott firmly believes in a positive, student-centered teaching approach that supports confidence, creativity, and musical growth.